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Divisional round was a weekend to remember in NFL

Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports
2:02 a.m. EST January 14, 2013

Atlanta Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud (28) reacts during the first quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Georgia Dome.(Photo: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

Tight finishes were the common thread of a wild divisional playoff round.

Ravens' double-overtime upset of Broncos, the No. 1 AFC seed, set the tone.

Peyton Manning was supposed to play a Super Bowl in his hometown to complete a comeback season. Aaron Rodgers was supposed to prove Colin Kaepernick was an intriguing quarterback but not the win-in-the-postseason kind. And the Atlanta Falcons were supposed to choke again.

At least the Houston Texans lost as they were supposed to, right?

The weekend many believe to be the best of the NFL each year delivered: The Baltimore Ravens' double-overtime upset of Manning and the Denver Broncos; Kaepernick's 181-yard rushing display at Candlestick Park; the Atlanta Falcons' gutsy comeback against a just-as-gutsy Seattle Seahawks squad and the New England Patriots overcoming the reinjury to Rob Gronkowski's arm to win as easily as expected.

And what a scene on the Atlanta sideline when Tony Gonzalez gripped a team employee in a headlock through tears and a smile. It was the first playoff win in a spectacular career, although it didn't come easily and required 41 yards on two plays in 12 seconds to set up Matt Bryant's 49-yard winning field goal.

"I was like, 'I guess this is it, I'm going to go out with a heartbreaking loss getting such a big lead,'" said Gonzalez, who caught a 19-yard pass before the field goal. "I was thinking in my mind, 'It's not fair.'"

It might not seem fair to many that Gonzalez, Ray Lewis or neither will win a title on their way out of the NFL. But both got at least one more emotional on-field celebration.

There should be a few more of those before it's all done. Just as the postseason is supposed to be.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

After they felt they gave away last year's NFC championship game to the New York Giants, the 49ers have the rare opportunity to get it back the following season, this time on the road in Atlanta. The fast track in the Georgia Dome should help the 49ers offensively, as it should only speed up the threat Colin Kaepernick's legs bring.

Defensively, San Francisco might be the team best equipped to handle the Falcons' trio of standout wide receivers. The 49ers' secondary is loaded with talent and played well Saturday to contain the Green Bay Packers' passing game. Defensive tackle Justin Smith is battling elbow and triceps injuries but is and trying to be his usual self, creating havoc up front. He's not quite himself but still has enough to make it tougher for the Falcons. Same with those linebackers behind him.

There 49ers are a well-coached, angry team. The same can be said of their opponent. This is a strap-it-up kind of game if ever there were one. From a purely physical standpoint, the edge has to go to the 49ers.

The QB factor: He's not your father's quarterback; Kaepernick is more like your great-grandfather's, with as much as he runs. But he is extremely effective and turns what should be nice little runs into home runs. There no longer are questions about whether coach Jim Harbaugh made the right choice in going with Kaepernick over Alex Smith, right?

ATLANTA FALCONS

The biggest issue in facing the Atlanta Falcons was evident on the first of two plays to set up the game-winning field goal to beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. There you are as a defense worried about Falcons receivers Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez, and here comes Harry Douglas for 22 yards on a deep out.

The Falcons have a much better offense than in previous years, and Jacquizz Rodgers' bulling 45-yard run in the first quarter shows they have another weapon in the backfield, as well. And for the first time under coach Mike Smith, they have a playoff win under their belts.

Sunday was their moment to choke again, and they certainly tried to make it happen. Now that they have slipped past that point, they could be dangerously confident. Credit cornerback Asante Samuel for helping generate that swagger on defense and throughout the team. The former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback has never been short on confidence and the defense is playing that way now, too.

A healthy John Abraham would help the pass rush and firm up the edges against Colin Kaepernick. His ankle and how it responds Sunday will be a huge factor.

The QB factor: Shhh, if you listen carefully, you can still hear the Matt Ryan haters. They're the ones talking about that fourth-quarter interception that allowed the Seahawks back in the game. But Ryan played much better Sunday than he did in the Falcons' loss last year.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

If there were ever a debate, it's pretty clear by now that Ray Lewis announcing his retirement was much more a motivational element than a distraction for the Baltimore Ravens. They want to send their defensive leader out on a high note, and they're playing like it.

But that's not the real story.

What's happening on the other side of the ball is where the action is. Quarterback Joe Flacco has some pretty darn good chemistry going with wide receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin and tight end Dennis Pitta. Is running back Ray Rice still underused? Sure. But those receivers aren't, and they're winning one-on-one matchups against some of the game's top cornerbacks.

A suggestion: getting Rice involved Sunday against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. That's what happened early in a victory at Gillette Stadium three years ago when Rice went 83 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. He couldn't get it going in last year's AFC title game (67 yards on 21 carries), and the Ravens had to play from behind for much of the game.

Still, don't expect the Ravens to be intimidated by heading to Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday. Not after last year. Not after they were a Lee Evans drop from heading to the Super Bowl. Not with their passion to win a couple more for Lewis.

The QB factor: What late-season slump? Flacco is well over that, and his offensive line is part of the reason why. When he struggled during the regular season, it was because he was getting pressured constantly. With more time to throw, Flacco has been relaxed and on point.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Last year, the Patriots played Super Bowl XLVI with a banged-up Rob Gronkowski. It didn't go so well, a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants. If healthy that day, maybe they win.

This time, it's worse. Gronkowski is out for the rest of the playoffs after re-breaking his left forearm in Sunday's win against the Houston Texans, according to a person informed of the diagnosis doctors made Sunday. The person, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the Patriots hadn't yet announced the extent of the injury, said Gronkowski would require another surgery to repair the bone.

That's a huge loss, but they have shown they have the depth to overcome it. Aaron Hernandez can get some of the same things done and more. Wes Welker is putting the finishing touches on his pitch for a big payday in free agency. Shane Vereen is pushing to be the next running back in the ever-spinning backfield turnstile. And that defense is playing better than it's getting credit for, especially as the Pats' up-tempo style on offense increases the number of plays run in a game and, therefore, the amount of work to do.

Oh yeah, Tom Brady made a couple of perfect throws Sunday, namely to Vereen and Welker up the left sideline.

The QB factor: Brady, whose 40 postseason touchdown passes puts him five behind leader Joe Montana, is the last quarterback in the postseason to have won a championship. That's an enormous advantage for New England. He hasn't always been perfect, but there have been plenty of spot-on passes when needed. Expect that to continue.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (85) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the second half of the AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium.
David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of the AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans wide receiver DeVier Posey (11) catches a pass for a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of the AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans kick returner Danieal Manning (38) is tackled by New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) on a kick return during the first half of the AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half of the AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports